Natural disasters

I woke up this morning to the news that there was an earthquake in Indonesia and over 3,500 people were killed. Just two years ago, the same area lost over 115,000 people to the devastaing tsunami. It kind of puts my dilemmas into perspective, and even makes me feel a little guilty for the great opportunities i have in life. But maybe i should try to channel that guilt (that's probably the Catholic guilt.. nothing to compare it to) into a more positive energy. Be more appreciative of my life, and make the most of everything i have. To have something and waste it, would be worse. Of course there has to be a balance. I have to give as much as i take.

I was impressed by the speed of the financial and medical aid that the western nations supplied to the area, and promised in assistance, especially the European Commission and Unicef. Though did anyone else find the initial $500,000 from the U.S. a little on the loose-pocket-change and tight-shallow-pocket side? The U.S. budgets 20 billion dollars a year of taxpayer money for International Assistance Programmes (www.federalbudget.com). -Time for a disclaimer now. I'm terrible with numbers and anyways, Papua New Guinea isn't exactly in a position to offer financial assistance to anyone, so this is where i'm coming from. And I know that the U.S. is helping in Africa and South America and parts of Asia and has its mind set on the Middle East (ahem) so the budget is probably spread pretty thin, but this is a tragedy, a catastrophy. Maybe the oil profits could help out this once...

In the end Australia said it would send $2.3 million, and the US followed suit with $2.5 million, probably a little shamed of the first offer. Other numbers have risen too. In the time it's taken me to write this post, the head count is over 3,700. Some of us are very lucky.

omelette

Derived from French omelette is an alteration of the Middle French alumelle which is literally knife blade. It is also a modification of the Latin lamella -the diminutive of lamina which means thin plate.

An omelette is beaten eggs cooked without stirring until set and served folded in half. 1

This morning i ate THE best omelette in Taipei, and it was home made! was savouring every last bite and wishing it wouldn't end. yum. wish i could make something so amazing every try, but fear it's a one off thing.

1. Mirriam-webster online dictionary

105 down, 2 to go

Well, Amanda's on her last leg in Taiwan. This is my one hundred and fifth week in this country and i'll be leaving in 2. Of course i'm sad to leave. Utterly torn. Yes yes. But it's all boldly exciting too. I've never been to Thailand, and heading back to Europe is rather dizzying. what is it that i'll miss here in this corner of asia?? other than the people i work and play with, i've compiled a list of sorts..
WHAT will i miss?

*dirty public squat toilets with no toilet paper
*betelnut stains
*clean MRT's
*bus drivers called God
*dumplings
*breakfast smells of burgers and hash browns downstairs
*sentences with no prepositions or articles or conjugated verbs
*chinglish on everything
*people asking to touch my hair
*people asking to take a photo with me
*asahi japanese beer from 711
*MRT platform conductors with their whistles and menacing faces
*temples dotted throughout the alleys
*incense smells
*stinky tofu smells
*dirty puddles at the bus stop
*typhoons and earthquakes
*the first day of class when i can be anyone i want to be
*the last day of class when i know the students
*box-set-five-hour-marathons
*shoes off in the house
*house slippers, bathroom slippers and balcony slippers
*street vendors blocking the sidewalks
*busy streets, parks, everything
*long lines at "famous" food stalls
*old men playing GO in youth park
*taichi in the early mornings
*cheap phone calls
*expensive western breakfasts
*crowded noisy dim sum
*night markets

...

oh - at first i thought i wouldn't be able to think of enough things to even make a list!!
i understand if you got bored and surfed away.

i have a lot of erands to run, things to pack, shopping to do, preparations for CELTA in Bangkok, and i'm still teaching 8 hours a week. not very impressive. but enough to keep me in taipei. (unfortunately, but i know i'll appreciate it when i can actually buy dinner) so wish me luck and magic.
and i'll see you on the other side.